22 January II - Australian Open - Mustard vs. Delev
1307: So a great performance there from Italy's Antonio Bachunelli to reach the fourth round of his first Australian Open. He's been in great form in the lead up to this tournament, and has beaten some quality players. Next up we see a historic matchup in the singles between West CWLand's Jojo Mustard and East CWLand's Spas Delev in the first Grand Slam meeting between two players from each nation.

From Jason, Hiniton, via text: "Just saw the unseeded Bachunelli win that match, so maybe Delev can make it two from two. We in the East need a real boost, so we're all rooting for you, Spas!"

1311: Interesting to note that this is the first meeting between these two. Mustard is the 29th seed and hasn't dropped a set this week with wins over Germans Gunther Heug and Alex Peters. Delev, meanwhile, was taken to five by Lari Farkkila and then beat Bjorn Donaldson in straight sets.

1316: Players making their way down the tunnel. Nothing groundbreaking from either of them in their pre-match interviews. "I'm feeling quite fresh," says Delev. "I've played a few games but I'm at my peak fitness." Mustard says that Delev is a big test for him after two good showings already. "He didn't finish last year off so well, so I know his ranking doesn't represent how good he is. I've just got to keep on playing how I have and I'm confident I can get the win."

From Michael, Loveland Heath, via text: "Damn right he didn't finish the season off well - he didn't win a match after Nixonstown!" Not quite right Michael, but it wasn't a great end to his season.

1322: Crowd filling up a little bit after the first match and there's a rather large CWLand contingent from both sides of the wall. Spas Delev has won the toss and elected to serve first. He's wearing the blue singlet with the white shorts, whilst Mustard is wearing quite a striking green shirt with dark blue pants. Finally, we're ready to go!

Delev 1-0* Mustard
Nervous start from Delev as he sends his first serve of the match well long, and his second is pedestrian and subsequently dealt with by Mustard down the line. He finds his rhythm very quickly though with a couple of first serves Mustard can only get a bit of a racquet on. Mustard cracks first in a long rally to allow Delev to go to 40-15, and he gets on the board straight away with a typically powerful ace down the tee.

* denotes next to serve

Delev *1-1 Mustard
Really quality serving from Mustard here. Delev gets a look in on a tame first serve from Mustard and moves to 0-15, but is answered by some quality serving from the 29th seed from then on. He's always favoured the serve and volley style, but he's onto it very quickly here with three approaches to the net to put away easy volleys. Aggressive start to take it to fifteen.

Delev 1-2* Mustard
And Mustard breaks! Delev's starts well to put away a forehand winner to move to 30-0, but struggles to get that dangerous first serve in and Mustard gets to deuce. Again the serve goes long, and Mustard takes the initiative on the second serve to crack it deep into the forehand court. Delev makes the ground, but the ball goes straight into the net. Break point, but it is saved by Delev who takes a risk looking for the line and gets it. Gutsy. Doesn't matter, though, as Mustard eats up a short backhand and puts away a volley to take the early lead!

Delev *1-3 Mustard
Mustard gets a bit of the jitters on serve, but his second serve simply has more bite in it than Delev's. Delev gives himself a look as he cracks a clean winner off the Mustard second service to go to 40-30, but Mustard answers by dominating a crosscourt rally at the baseline and forcing Delev to shoot for a winner. He doesn't, and Mustard consolodates at 3-1.

From Felix, West Robbham, via text: "Delev's second serve looks like my grand mother's at the moment. Really looking nervous with it."

Delev 2-3* Mustard
Delev answers that particular critic with a fantastic effort to come back from 15-30. Mustard moved in sight of the double break by pulling ahead with a forehand that just caught the tape and left Delev in no man's land, but the powerful Easterner answers with three aces in a row to stay in the set. Quality serving that gets his percentages just above fifty. Still not enough, but he's starting to look more comfortable.

Delev *2-4 Mustard
Delev starting to grow in confidence here, but he can't get the break of service. Mustard is trying to tempt him into rallies, and he's not having any part of it. Unfortunately his radar is slightly off as he misses the chance to go 30-30 as he sends an overhead smash straight into the net. That gets a bit of a roar of frustration out of him, and his temper isn't held at all by Mustard's slice that sees him send a forehand nearly into the crowd.

Delev 3-4* Mustard
Despite being a break down, Delev is really putting the pressure on Mustard here. Delev hits winners off two of his serves to move to 30-0, but blows a chance to go to 40-0 as he sends a backhand long. He's not happy and challenges it via Hawkeye, but the linesperson was right to start with. Finds a bit of gusto in that second serve at 40-15 to take the game dropping just one point.

From Rob, Melbourne, via text: "Both players should utilize the lob shot a little more one feels. Ah Tennis during the day nothing beats it!" Absolutely right, Rob. Good to see you are following us here because no doubt Channel 7 is currently showing the Sounds of the Game instead of any live tennis!

Delev *3-5 Mustard
Heating up on the All Purpose Arena, but Mustard is still doing enough to fight off Delev. Probably could say this was a missed opportunity for Delev who had looks at two second serves and might have broken, but Mustard is doing well to keep in points with his accurate shots. He gets to 40-15 with a trademark serve and volley, but Delev is able stay in range as he draws an error from Mustard. Doesn't matter, though, as Jojo picks the perfect time to serve his first ace of the match to force Delev to serve to stay in the set.

Delev 4-5* Mustard
And Delev stays alive in the set! He's really going for the lines to try to intimidate Mustard, here, and serves two aces - one at 211 km/h! Mustard gets just the one points this game - a double fault no less - and is forced to serve it out at 5-4.

Heath Davis on Twitter: "Mustard playing really well at the moment. I should also be preparing for a match tonight, but I'm not. LOL Come on El Mustardo!"

Delev *4-6 0-0 Mustard
Real chance for Delev here as he steps inside of a second serve from Mustard to crack a forehand winner across court to move to 15-30. Again, though, Mustard does well under pressure to fire down an ace and then another unreturned first serve to bring up one set point. That's all he needs as Delev sends a backhand into the net after a fifteen shot rally to hand the 29th seed the first set!

Heath Davis on Twitter: "Mustard playing really well at the moment. I should also be preparing for a match tonight, but I'm not. LOL Come on El Mustardo!"

Smartarse

Seriously though, top stuff mate.

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Delev 4-6 1-0* Mustard
Great start to the second set for Delev as he got his first serves in and held to love. When he's getting those serves in he's irresistable - he's now won nineteen of 22 points on his first serve and Mustard is having distinct difficulties returning him. The problem was, though, in the first he served at just 55 per cent.

Centre Court Update: Could be a bit of a fizzer on our hands as seventh seed Jozsef Boros has taken the first set off Australian qualifier David Jones and now leads 2-0 in the second. Earlier today, ninth seed Illya Altman advanced to the fourth round with a four-set win over Zoltan Varga. Good effort by Varga who came into the Open under an injury cloud with no match practice since November. Altman plays the winner of this match, incidentally.

Delev *4-6 2-0 Mustard
Uh oh, trouble a foot for Mustard as he starts the set with a double fault and then quickly finds himself down three break points as Delev cracks two clean winners to give himself his first chances on Mustard's serve of the match. But deary me! Mustard saves all three of them, including one awesome backhand from his feet at 30-40 when he was all but done! Delev is calm, though, and sticks in a rally with Mustard and this time it is Mustard who cracks. Another break point, and Delev finally converts. This match might have just turned!

Just when you thought this sim couldn't get any more epic... BHAM!!! Awesome work so far Nick.

Thanks . Though I get the feeling if I'd done this for Oxenstierna/Drake, I'd topped myself. Interesting match brewing here in the All Purpose.

Delev 4-6 2-1* Mustard
Good start from Delev as he throws a second serve out wide and finishes Mustard off with a backhand straight down the line to go to 30-15. I can, however, think of better times to hit your first double fault of the day, and it is all square at 30-30. Mustard brings up his second break point of the day as Delev tries to hit the cover off a short forehand and only manages to find net. Doesn't matter, though, as he saves it and brings up his own game point. Some quick work from Mustard at the net prevents him from closing it out, but Delev delivers some of his own serve and volley to get another chance to close it out. He can't, and Mustard leaps onto a second serve to bring up another break point. This time he manages to control a rally with Delev, and after taking him off the court with a deep forehand finishes it off at the net! Good show!

From Aleksander, Kiev via e-mail: "These two aren't going to go close to Illya in the next round. He was so good today!"

Delev *4-6 3-1 Mustard
Delev starting to really attack Mustard's serves now because he's about a good ten km/h behind him on the first serve. A booming forehand that Mustard can barely get to the net brings up a break back point for Delev, but Mustard stays calm and deposits a backhand to stay in the game. He aces to bring up game point, but is far too careful with a volley as Delev goes cross court with the backhand to bring it back to deuce. He goes cross court again with the backhand to bring up another break point, but he can't close it out as Mustard defends brilliantly and draws the error. Unbelievable stuff as Mustard continues to scramble and Delev blows more opportunities - a fifth break point and allows Mustard a chance to serve out the game. He can't, though, and we get a seventh deuce. Delev is going to kick himself if he can't get the break here, and Mustard serves up break point number six on a platter as he double faults. Horrible time to do it! Mustard gets a first serve in, but it is chipped back in by Delev as Mustard can only just get it back into play. Delev isn't confident of passing Mustard at the net, so throws out a lob to finally end this game. Amazing couple of games here, with both men blowing huge opportunities in the context of this set.

Delev 4-6 3-2* Mustard
Delev starts the game strongly by bullying Mustard in a rally to go to 30-15 as Mustard reaches for a backhand and puts it well wide of the court. But the amazing run of breaks continues as Jojo just slams two winners down the forehand side of the court to bring up break point. He makes it four-in-a-row to put the set back on service as Delev is left stranded in the middle of the court; Mustard slotting a winner past him calmly to have a chance to serve for 3-3.

Centre Court Update: Seventh seed Jozsef Boros is on the verge of a fourth round berth after taking the second set against David Jones 6-3 and he leads 1-0 in the third.
Delev *4-6 3-3 Mustard
Better stuff from Mustard there as he recovers from a fault to put away a comfortable smash as Delev tries to lob one over him at the net. He holds for the first time since closing out the first set for the loss of just one point.
Heath Davis on Twitter: "No need to worry here. Both guys looking a bit shaky on serve, so full confidence in Mustard to get back into this one." Good prediction, Heath. Mustard's only managed to win points on ten of his 22 first serves, so that game was really important to try to get his confidence back up.

Delev 4-6 4-3* Mustard
And also better from the East CWLander who holds service for the first time since the first game of the set. Mustard starts off well by earning 0-15 as Delev clips the tape with a backhand slice and it lands the wrong side of the net. He's not good at those kind of shots. Nevertheless, Mustard gets a little bit overzealous with a return and sends it well wide to allow Delev back to 15-15. With some tidy shots at the baseline the aggressive Delev brings up game point and seemingly closes it out as Mustard fires a forehand down that lands the wrong side of the line. He challenges it with Hawkeye, but it was clearly wide and probably a case of wishful thinking.

Delev *4-6 5-3 Mustard
Maybe a change of shirt will do the trick for Mustard here as the striking green number makes way for plain white. It doesn't seem to work, though, as Delev manages to fight his way to a break point, but Mustard's serve manages to get him back to deuce. He gets a chance to level the set at 4-4 after a powerful serve down the middle, but makes an absolutely meal of a relatively easy forehand to an open court. Oh my he's looking nervous. Delev earns himself another break point with some a cool backhand to stop Mustard from coming in, and then has it handed to him on a silver platter by Mustard who fires down his third double fault of the match. He challenges it, but again wishful thinking as he blows a massive opportunity.

From Ken, West Robbham, via text: "Notice Mustard's service percentage. Has dropped considerably since the first set." Well no. It has actually gone up this set, but he's winning less than fifty per cent on his own service because he's just concentrating on getting them in instead of threatening. Delev to serve for the set.

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3* Jojo Mustard
Brilliant stuff from Delev who shakes off any nerves he might have by firing down three sweet serves to go to 40-0 and to bring up three set points. Mustard saves one with a blinding forehand down the line after a twelve shot rally. Where has that been for the rest of the set? Delev fires a serve down the tee, but the linesperson calls it a fault. Delev challenges it and is proven to be right and heads off in the direction of the chair. The chair umpire, however, thinks Mustard had a play on it. Doesn't matter, though, as he puts his serve in the same spot for a second ace of the set and levels the match at a set a piece! Mustard drops his first set of the tournament.

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Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 1-0 Jojo Mustard
Delev is starting to move really well around the court and gets himself a look at an early break as he moves to 15-30 with a well played drop shot to finish off a rally he dominated from the baseline. Mustard levels it up with an unreturned serve, but can't stop Delev from bringing up break point. He needs to get a first serve in, but can't do it and Delev takes full advantage of some 160 km/h cannon fodder to break straight away!

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 2-0* Jojo Mustard
Brilliant first serve from Delev that swings wide and leaves Mustard swinging at thin air to go to 40-15. If he's not careful this set will get away from him. Mustard shakes off some frustration by absolutely creaming a forehand at Delev who comes to the net to try to close out the game. He does not do it often, and that'd be why. All for nought, though, as he nets a backhand to give Delev the 2-0 lead.

From Martti, East Robbham, via e-mail: "Excellent work from Delev, looking to wrap it up soon, do Nykšnen proud." Couldn't be the Martti, could it?

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 2-1 Jojo Mustard
He's just staying in it, is the 29th seed. Some lovely serve and volley gets him to 40-0 and a chance to get on the board in the third set. He is made to wait, though, as Delev managed to loop a backhand past him, but he manages to close it out with a serve out wide and an elemementary forehand volley to the open court. Great answer from Mustard who is quickly falling out of touch.

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 2-2* Jojo Mustard
Ahh! Is there a twist in this tale? Delev blasts a second serve very long to give Mustard a 0-30 opportunity, and he quickly brings up two break points after prevailing in a lengthy rally. Delev gets a good second serve, but Mustard quickly takes advantage of a less-than-impressive attempt at a winner to just take the line in the back corner with a cross-court forehand to secure the break! Delev thinks about challenging the call, but is talked out of it by the chair umpire.

Spas Delev *4-6 6-3 2-3 Jojo Mustard
Mustard is starting to gain in confidence here, and keeps the points short with some economical serving that is well-placed enough to stop Delev from making any headway against it. Delev manages to pass him at the net to move to 40-15, but that's as far as he gets as the 29th seed edges ahead in this crucial set with an easy smash.

Centre Court Update: Seventh seed Jozsef Boros is through to the fourth round with a 6-3, 6-3, 6-2 win over David Jones.

From Abdul, Youngshead, via text: "The whole town of Youngshead is rooting for you Jojo!" Well with that break back he's certainly put the pressure back on the unseeded player.

Spas Delev 4-6 6-3 3-3* Jojo Mustard
Some disturbance in the crowd. Not sure what that's about, but there are a couple of young men being escorted from the building. Tut tut. Delev still holding up after giving up his slender lead, but you can tell Mustard is beginning to find his range and is really testing the East CWLander. A good service game from Delev as he serves well enough to draw some mistakes from Mustard, and hits a clean winner to secure the game for the loss of just one point. Good to see aggressive tennis from both men, but it obvious that Delev is doing all he can to shorten these points and to avoid another five-set affair.